"I think it is important to point out that creativity is a human capability. It is not owned by, or restricted to artists, designers and architects; everyone has it, but the real question is how you harness creativity in such a way that it can be made productive."

Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam, Director, Institute of Design Innovation.

Design Innovation is a way of structuring group creativity towards valuable outcomes using design practices.

By engaging a wide range of expertise, it is possible to address complex issues. For example, our researchers work with health and social care practitioners, doctors and users of health care services to design healthcare solutions for the future. With businesses, we use design innovation to guide the organisation through rethinking an aspect of the business model, to define new products and services or explore new markets. Through design innovation we view issues from a variety of angles, considering the economic, socio-cultural and behavioural factors that play into successful innovation.  

We believe that for innovation to be sustainable, it needs to evolve through direct engagement with the people for whom it is designed. We are experts in creatively directing an inclusive and iterative process, working with people to develop and prototype ideas that lead to robust solutions and valuable outcomes.